South Africa’s longest-running arts festival is back with a diverse line-up across a multitude of languages, genres and barriers. This year the National Arts Festival (NAF) runs from 20 June – 30 June 2024 and features more than 200 works from all over the nation.
Here’s what you can expect at the 2024 National Arts Festival:
Curated programme
Theatre
Swartwater
Swartwater explores the losses experienced by an indigenous Nama family that was part and parcel of colonisation and the discovery of diamonds back in the 1900s. Swartwater explores themes of displacement and relocation, grief and resilience. With dramaturgy by arts veteran, Lee-Ann Van Rooi and script and direction by Geralt Cloete, the play stars Jody-Ann Cloete, Liza-Marie De Waal, Diansca Obies, and Annaline Joseph. The show offers insight into the experience of indigenous peoples of South Africa as we have never seen it before.
Image credit: National Arts Festival / (website)
Get your tickets to see Swartwater at NAF here.
Dance
Aslama
Aslama is directed and choreographed by Yaseen Manuel, who has managed to blend his religious background with his art through dance. Inspired by the Syrian massacre, Aslama is a contemporary dance performance that shines a light on the emotions of people living in war-torn Syria. The body of work is a reminder of the importance of empathy in the midst of tragedy and also aims to highlight the resilience of the Syrian people.
Image credit: National Arts Festival / (website)
Get your tickets to see Aslama at NAF here.
Music
Zoe Modiga
Catch an enthralling live performance by Zoe Modiga, who will be performing hits from her much-loved debut album, “Yellow: The Novel”; her award-winning sophomore album, “Inganekwane”; and her latest body of work, “Nomthandazo”.
WATCH Zoe Modiga’s UMDALI:
Get your tickets to see Zoe Modiga at NAF here.
Visual arts
Izandi Zembilambo Yabo Kuthi / The Sounds of Their Rivers in Us
This immersive artistic experience aims to honour artists and creative workers who have departed from March 2020 to March 2024. The audiovisual experience will coincide with live performances and is directed and curated by the multi-talented Mandla Mbothwe. Mbothwe is a lecturer and researcher at the University of Cape Town; founder and artistic director at Mud and Fire Parables, co-artistic director at Magnet Theatre, as well as at Mbothwe and Doni Collectives.
Image credit: National Arts Festival / (website)
Get your tickets to see Izandi Zembilambo Yabo Kuthi / The Sounds of Their Rivers in Us at NAF here.
Jazz
Sipho “Hotstix” Mabuse
Legendary Sipho “Hotstix” Mabuse has pioneered the transition of township jive as we know it today. He has culturally developed genres that we now know as afro-funk, Soweto Soul and township pop. At the age of 72, he will be gracing the Guy Butler Theatre stage with a mult-instrumental performance. Featured in his repertoire are the African drums, alto flute, flute, kalimba, piano, timbales and saxophone, to name but a few.
WATCH Sipho “Hotstix” Mabuse’s “Burn Out:
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Feature image: National Arts Festival / (website)
